Weekly

Intercessions in the Scottish Episcopal Church in the Charges of St Margaret, Renfrew & St John, Johnstone Week beginning Sunday 07 February 2021

The aim of this leaflet is to help you pray at home as part of the Worldwide Anglican family in the Scottish Episcopal Church. Please use this sheet in conjunction with weekly Pewsheet and the SEC Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer.

Join in the Daily Offices at https://tinyurl.com/SECStJohnStMargaret 9am Morning Prayer & 530pm Evening Prayer (Monday to Friday)

You can follow these Daily Offices online at www.scotland.anglican.org/spirituality/prayer/daily -offices/ where you will find Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer each day of the week. All the Psalm and Bible texts are automatically there for the day and any commemoration or Festival.

Just before the Lord’s Prayer you can insert these prayer intentions for the day and the names of those for whom we have been asked to pray in their different needs from the Pewsheet. Also are included the Benedictine Prayers of Union which Rev Reuben uses everyday being an Oblate of Alton Abbey in Hampshire.

www.SECStJohnStMargaret.org.uk

JOINT CALL TO PRAYER

each SUNDAY 7pm

In a joint message, church leaders in Scotland said:

“The remembering of the past is an integral part of what it is to be human. In our remembering, we recall the persons and the events that have shaped us and made us who we are. In the act of remembering, we often seek to make sense of and come to terms with the past. In the depths of our remembering, we acknowledge and lament loss. At this particular time, we are profoundly conscious of the depth of loss within the communities and nation of which we are a part.

“In the Book of Psalms, the Psalmist affirms that God ‘remembers’ and that, in particular, God remembers the covenant made with the people of God. The One who forges a relationship with the people of God, is the One who remembers the covenant forever. (Psalm 111: 5) In our remembering, we recall the One who remembers us and does not forget all that we endure in these hard times.”

Signed by:

Most Rev. , Primus, on behalf of the College of Bishops, Scottish Episcopal Church Rt. Rev. Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly, Church of Scotland Most Rev. Leo Cushley, Archbishop of St. Andrews and , Roman Catholic Church Rev. John Fulton, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland Rev. Lindsey Sanderson, Moderator, United Reformed Church (Scotland) Rev. Martin Hodson, General Director, Baptist Union of Scotland Rev. Mark Slaney, District Chair, Methodist Church (Scotland) Rev. May-Kane Logan, Chair, Congregational Federation in Scotland Lt. Col. Carol Bailey, Secretary for Scotland, Salvation Army Adwoa Bittle, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Rev. Claire Fender, District Superintendent, British Isles North District, Church of the Nazarene Pastor Chris Gbenle, Provincial Pastor, Province of Scotland, Redeemed Christian Church of God Bishop Francis Alao, Church of God (Scotland)/Minority Ethnic Churches Together in Scotland (MECTIS) Rev Fred Drummond, Director, Evangelical Alliance (Scotland).

Light a candle in your window at 7pm on Sunday, along with Christians of all denominations. You can say the prayer on the next page as you do so: We pray:

God who remembers, Be with us in our remembering this day. Be with us on the journey That takes us from the past And into the future that lies before us. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God who remembers, Be with us in our remembering this day. Be with as we recall those who have shaped us And the events that have made us. Grant to us grace and healing in all we recall. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God who remembers, Be with us in our remembering this day. Be with us in sorrow and in loss And come beside all who mourn this day. Come beside us and do not leave us. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God who remembers, Be with us in our remembering this day. Be with those who serve in hospitals and in homes And who, by their medical and nursing skills, Provide comfort and hope to those who suffer. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God who remembers, Be with us in our remembering this day. Be with us as community and nation And strengthen us in all we endure. Even in the darkness, may we find your light renewed through Jesus Christ. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Amen. Some prayers for use during the pandemic

God of all mercy and compassion, life and death are in your hands.

Hear our prayers in this time of illness and infection, of isolation, fear, and uncertainty: for the sick, and those weighed down by pain, distress, loneliness, and anxiety; for all who care for them, conscious of the risks they bear; and for those who have responsibility for public health and social order.

Hear the cry of the afflicted and let them be comforted, so that all who suffer may come to know that they are joined to the sufferings of Christ, who gave his life for the salvation of the world; and by your blessing on them and those who care for them, may they be restored, according to your will, to soundness of body and mind, and offer you joyful thanks in your Church.

Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.

God of our Salvation, you have ordained that we should serve you in serving one another.

Look upon this nation, burdened at this time with many cares and anxieties, with infection, sickness, and untimely death.

Grant us grace to work together, with honest and faithful hearts, each caring for the good of all; that, striving first for your kingdom and its righteousness, we may have added to us all things that we need for our daily sustenance and the common good.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Based on a prayer of Geoffrey Fisher)

O God, whose love we cannot measure, nor even number thy blessings: we bless and praise thee for all thy goodness, who in our weakness art our strength, in our darkness, light, in our sorrows, comfort and peace, and from everlasting to everlasting art our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, world without end.

(Supplement to the Indian Book of Common Prayer)

The doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked (John 20. 19)

Ever-present God, be with us in our isolation, be close to us in our distancing, be healing in our sickness, be joy in our sadness, be light in our darkness, be wisdom in our confusion, be all that is familiar when all is unfamiliar, that when the doors reopen we may with the zeal of Pentecost inhabit our communities and speak of your goodness to an emerging world. For Jesus’ sake. (A prayer by Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark)

Faith in action – Wellbeing

We pray that all people may flourish and live life in all its fulness. We call to mind the significant inequalities that have been revealed by the pandemic and we pray for policies and actions that will make our society fairer. In solidarity with those who face stigma and unequal life chances, we pray alongside people with disabilities, long-term conditions, mental ill-health and social and economic threats to their wellbeing.

Lord, we give thanks for the glorious diversity of ability within your children, Open us up to see you in the differing abilities of the different people we meet, Let us recognise the insight of the blind, Let us hear your voice in the deaf, Let us encounter your Wisdom in those with learning difficulties. For although different, together in our great diversity of gifts and abilities, We reflect the inexhaustible richness of your love, and the beauty of your holy name. AMEN Daily Intercessions in the United Charges of St John’s Johnstone & St Margaret’s Renfrew

Sunday 7 February intentions

In the Anglican Communion pray for

The Anglican Church of Burundi

In the SEC we pray for

• Bishop , Bishop of the United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway; Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; the people of Scotland. • Bishop’s Staff Group. • All Saints, Challoch, with the Whithorn Fellowship; St Ninian’s, Portpatrick; St John the Evangelist, Stranraer (Vacant). • St Adamnan’s, Duror (Diocese of Argyll and The Isles).

In our local Charges

We pray for hope for an end to the coronavirus pandemic throughout the world and healing for all who are suffering from covid-19 at home and in hospital. We pray for those named on our pewsheet – for health, healing, and

wholeness in their lives. We pray for each other as we worship together by telephone or online and for our Zoom evensong this evening. We pray that we may stay connected with one another and still feel part of our church community during this time of lockdown. We pray for growth in the lives of our Charges, we pray that we may each take part in inviting new people to become part of the life of our churches in Johnstone & Renfrew.

In our communities We pray for all affected in their lives, work and finances by the increased restrictions required for the safety of all and especially for those who cannot visit loved ones at home or in care homes. We pray for those who are homeless and any at risk of losing their homes and for those seeking to put an end to homelessness. We pray for wisdom and integrity and a worldwide vision for our Nation’s leaders – may they help us to work together for the common good of all. We pray for all those involved in the vaccination programme against COVID, that all those most at risk throughout the world will have access to the vaccine soon. We pray for parts of the world suffering because of war, terrorism, or natural disasters and that we may share in responsibility for our brothers and sisters across the world.

Monday 8 February intentions

In the Anglican Communion we pray for

The Diocese of Saint Andrews Dunkeld & Dunblane – The Scottish Episcopal Church

In the SEC

• Bishop Kevin Pearson, Bishop of the United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway; Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; the people of Scotland. • Porvoo Link: The Church of Sweden. • Diocesan Council. • St Mary’s, Gatehouse of Fleet; St Francis of Assisi (Greyfriars), Kirkcudbright (Stephen Hazlett). • St Andrew’s, Fort William (Diocese of Argyll and The Isles). In our local Charges as Sunday and we pray for those in the leisure, travel, hospitality and retail sectors as they deal with lockdown. We pray for any who are anxious about what to do for the best to keep others safe, that they may feel hope for a safer world in the coming year. We pray for Charges in the Renfrewshire Region as they continue to serve their congregations without attendance at their church buildings. We pray for those considering how to keep Lent this year and for those who will be joining in our Lent pilgrimage course. We pray for our online and telephone worship on Wednesdays that we may find this a time of blessing. We pray that we can continue to welcome the year with hope, trusting in the mercy of God.

In our communities We pray for families experiencing food poverty and pray that all children have access to wholesome food. We pray for our Government Ministers and the Scientific advisors as they continue to bear heavy responsibilities in managing the risks posed by COVID-19. We pray for all experiencing hardship or loneliness because of the restrictions required for protection against the spread of coronavirus, especially remembering the impact on the BAME communities. We pray for all who work in the NHS, for social care workers in care homes and in the community, that they may have the strength to continue caring for the sick and the dying. We pray for all those with responsibilities for migrants and asylum seekers and for just and compassionate responses to those risking their lives to escape violence, persecution and exclusion to find safety. We pray especially for children separated from their families.

Tuesday 9 February intentions

In the Anglican Communion we pray for

The Anglican Missionary District – Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil.

In the SEC

• Bishop Kevin Pearson, Bishop of the United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway; Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; the people of Scotland. • Scottish Episcopal Church: Argyll and the Isles (Bishop-elect Keith Riglin). • St Ninian’s, Castle Douglas (Christopher Ketley, Douglas Allison, Alan Rumble). • Christ Church, Dalbeattie (Christopher Ketley, John Simmons, Helen Evans). • St Mary’s, Glencoe (Diocese of Argyll and The Isles).

In our local Charges as Sunday and for the youngsters in our families at church and in our extended families who are away from us. We pray for any whose lives are particularly restricted at this time because of long-term conditions or disabilities, that are not lonely and may feel hope for a time when restrictions can be safely lifted. We pray for trans young people that they are accepted for who they are and receive the support they need and for all young people that are free to discover and live out their identities. We continue to pray for ecumenical relationships and for a shared Christian witness to the people of Scotland. In our communities We pray for all mothers and fathers and for foster carers and especially any who are stressed by the demands of providing for their families at this time. We pray for people living completely alone and feeling isolated and cut off, we give thanks for people helping neighbours. We pray for those who feel vulnerable and frightened by all that is happening, and those who are anxious or scared to go out. We pray for people who must shield or self-isolate, especially those protecting and supporting vulnerable family members. We pray for homeless people and for those in unsuitable or unsafe accommodation, including those living in buildings with cladding that is not fully fireproof. We pray for those in the Scottish fishing industry, that their businesses may come through the serious challenges they are facing and that our fragile coastal communities may be supported to survive and thrive.

Wednesday 10 February intentions

In the Anglican Communion we pray for The Diocese of Angola – The Anglican Church of Southern Africa

In the SEC

• Bishop Kevin Pearson, Bishop of the United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway; Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; the people of Scotland. • Porvoo Link: The Church of England. • St John the Evangelist, Dumfries (Janice Aiton, James Clark- Maxwell, Andrew MacKenzie, Paul Burbridge, Ann Shukman, Steven Ballard, Gordon Warwick, Richard Starkey). • St Margaret of Scotland, New Galloway (Pam Swift). • St Columba’s, Gruline, Isle of Mull (Diocese of Argyll and The Isles). In our local Charges as Sunday and for people working from home and all those looking after children at home and home schooling. We pray for the households, couples, families, and our friends in our congregations. We pray for our telephone church service this afternoon that it may help us to be an inclusive church. We pray for our online service this evening: that it may be a time of blessing to us all. We pray for the grace to discern where God is calling us this year in our journeys as disciples.

In our communities We pray for Key workers and those who are working as child-minders and carers in the residential care settings of our Charges. We pray for Outreach Workers of Glasgow City Mission and their support to the homeless and the vulnerable people of our region and for all those community initiatives that are helping to feed those in need. We pray for those who have been furloughed and any at risk of losing their job, that they will have sufficient income to meet their needs and have hope of an improvement in their situation. We pray for our Prime Minister – Boris and First Minister – Nicola in their work for the common good. May they be wise in the discharge of their duties for the Nation. We pray for areas of conflict throughout the world and for the work of international agencies and charities who provide relief.

Thursday 11 February intentions

In the Anglican Communion we pray for

The Diocese of Ankole – The Church of the Province of Uganda

In the SEC

• Bishop Kevin Pearson, Bishop of the United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway; Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; the people of Scotland. • Diocesan Secretary (John Mitchell). • East End Team Ministry: St John the Evangelist, Baillieston; St Kentigern’s, Dennistoun; St Serf’s, Shettleston (Jim Benton-Evans, Lucy Ireland). • The Carmel Community, Gress, Isle of Lewis (Diocese of Argyll and The Isles). In our local Charges We pray for all those who have lost a loved one and find this a difficult time, that they will be consoled. We pray for Bishop Kevin as he serves the Diocese. We pray for a growth in vocations in our diocese and for any who are discerning a vocation to ordained ministry, lay leadership, worship leading or pastoral work. We pray for all who teach the faith that they may find ways to inspire others. In our communities We pray for manual workers, street repair workers, refuse collectors and open-spaces maintenance workers. We pray for those in the retail sector, those still working that they may stay safe, and those not able to work at present, that they may have enough to meet their needs. We pray for those living in care homes and their families who hope to be able to visit them safely soon. We pray for people feeling frustrated and anxious, those worried about jobs, those seeking work and employment and for any who face economic hardship. We pray for the groups which used to use our hall in Renfrew – AA & CA, and the Brownies and Dance classes, may they find new ways of working. We give thanks for all volunteers helping to sustain the most vulnerable in our community. We pray for Mental Health Services in the NHS and voluntary sector. May they have the resources and capacity to respond to the great needs at this time.

Friday 12 February intentions

In the Anglican Communion we pray for

Ankole – The Church of the Province of Uganda

In the SEC

• Bishop Kevin Pearson, Bishop of the United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway; Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; the people of Scotland. • Porvoo Link: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. • Diocesan Treasurer (Robert Burgon); Diocesan Auditors (John R. Park, Jackie McCarrell, Andrew Littlejohn). • St James-the-Less, Bishopbriggs (Paul Watson, Harriet Johnston, Kennedy Fraser). • St Cyprian’s, Lenzie (Les Ireland). • All Saints, Inveraray (Diocese of Argyll and The Isles). In our local Charges We pray for all those struggling financially, those without homes, those depressed or unwell, may God’s mercy bring them consolation and resilience. We pray for the BAME communities as they face the pains and challenges of the ongoing COVID19 situation in Britain and the impact it is having on them, along with the issues raised by the BLMs campaigns in the UK and abroad. We pray for ourselves in the year ahead, that we can make time for our relationship with God, for prayer and praise.

In our communities We pray that we may find an end to homelessness in our society once and for all and for the Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Action Group as they seek to find ways forward. We pray for children living in refugee camps that homes may be found for them in safe places. We pray for spiritual renewal in Johnstone and Renfrew and that we may all feel empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the Good News. We pray for peace and justice in the Middle East and for reconciliation and dialogue across religious, ethnic and political divides.

Saturday 13 February intentions

In the Anglican Communion we pray for

The Diocese of Northwest Ankole – The Church of the Province of Uganda

In the SEC

• Bishop Kevin Pearson, Bishop of the United Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway; Bishop Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church; the people of Scotland. • Scottish Episcopal Church: Brechin (Bishop ). • Companions of Our Lady & St Mungo (Ellen Barrett, Alison Joy Whybrow (Sr AJ). • Holy Name, Cumbernauld (Vacant, Ray Gascoigne). • St Matthew’s, Possilpark (David Wostenholm, Stewart Wood). • St Columba’s, Bridgend, Isle of Islay (Diocese of Argyll and The Isles).

In our local Charges We pray for all those who are joining our services online that they feel a full part of our community of worship. We pray that we will always see the face of Christ in those who are vulnerable and in trouble and my respond to them as our neighbours. We pray that in the year ahead we may remember the precious gift of the Christ child and commit ourselves to sharing his love with others. We pray for all those who will join in our worship tomorrow, the online congregations in the morning and our Zoom congregation in the evening.

In our communities We pray for any struggling with relationships at this time and any at risk of abuse, that their homes may become places of safety. We pray for world leaders in their work of helping the poorest areas and regions of the world during this pandemic time. We pray for our First Minister Nicola as she leads Scotland. We pray for people who are lonely, isolated, or desolate. We pray for all those who work for the wellbeing of children and seek to prevent the lifelong impact of trauma and disadvantage. We pray that new people will join the lives of St John’s & St Margaret’s.

From Alton Abbey Hampshire – Benedictine Foundation

Prayers of Union For those in pain or sorrow: Mother of Jesus, pray. For those in doubt or fear: Mother of Jesus, pray. For all bishops, and : Mother of Jesus, pray. For all monks and nuns: Mother of Jesus, pray. For all members of our Confraternity: Mother of Jesus, pray. For the unity of all Christians: Mother of Jesus, pray. May all who honour you, Know the power of your prayer. Saint Benedict, Father of monks, Pray for us and all children.

Lord, arouse in your Church the spirit which guided our holy father Benedict. Fill us with that spirit and grant that we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught. Help us to be steadfast in the service of your will, that we may grow in number and holiness. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. or The Prayer Anima Christi (Soul of Christ) – Contemporary Version, David Flemming, SJ

Jesus, may all that is you flow into me. May your body and blood be my food and drink. May your passion and death be my strength and life. With you by my side, enough has been given me. May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross. Let me not run from the love which you offer, but hold me safe from the forces of evil. On each of my dyings shed your light and your love. Keep calling to me until that day comes when, with your saints, I may praise you for ever. Amen.

The SEC is dedicated to becoming a welcoming, open and inclusive spiritual environment for all people- irrespective of gender, sexual and sexuality identities. We seek to offer a place for you to connect with the true self that we believe God has made you. If you feel different – welcome! We are different because we believe that as we walk with Jesus Christ together our lives are transformed and find fresh meaning and purpose, sharing in the gift of life as we know it now. You have found a new home and family to grow and flourish- welcome!

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